Percussion-fuse.



No. 735,288. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

B. GATHMANN.

PERCUSSION FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1903.

No MODEL,

2 5 charge.

4o is held innorm'al `from a rilied gun.

EMIL GATHMANN,

PATENT Ormes.

OF SOUTH BE'IIHLEl-IEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF SOUTHBETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PERCUSSION-FUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed May 25, 1903.

xo percussion-fuses, and has for its object the prevention of premature or accidental explosion of the shell to which the fuse is fitted.

The percussion or primer caps or pellets of fuses are necessarily quite sensitive to sud- I 5 den shocks or blows, being usually composed of or containing some detonating mixtures, v such as fulminate, and accidental explosions lmay and sometimes do take place.v l have devised means whereby if an explosion oczo curs it will be isolated or confined to the primer-cap without igniting the magazine or shell charge, and said means consists of an automatic valve or shutter which normally separates the cap from the exploding or shell In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of a fuse-plug embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

The stock or body A of the plug has any usual form of exploder or hammer l, held in normal position in a chamber X by a brittle shear or safety wire E. Forward of the hammer is the anvil C, in which is a seat for the 3 5 percussion-cap H, eontai ning the initial igniting charge. A channel or vent V leads from the cap-seat to the magazine S or to the charge of the sl1ell.` Interposed in the pathV of the channel is a valve K, which, asshown, closing position by a small spiral spring L. This valve l is located in a radial bore lor openingso'as to be eccentric to the axis of rotation when the-fuse is inserted in a projectile which is to be fired During the usual handling ofthe projectile the safety-wire normally keeps the hammer B from contact with the cap ll, and if the wire should be broken through by any chance and the cap be. eX- 5o ploded by violent contact with the hammer Patent No. 735,238, dated August-4, ,1903.

Serial No. 158.700. '(No modem...

the inter-position of the valve keeps the flame from passing through the vent to the vpowder charge. In firing the shell from the gun the setback or inertia of all parts tends to resist any forward motion and the wire E'Will be sheared, and as long as the motion of the firmly to rear of its seat, inasmuch as the force ofV acceleration is much greater than the centrifugal force, which (as thefifling in guns is usually of an increased pitch toward the muzzle of the gun) will only acquire its maxim um pull at or near the point where the projectile leaves the bore of the gun. At this latter -point acceleration practically ceases and the stronger pull will be that due to the rotary lmotion of, the projectile generating centrifugal force. The spring L is so adjusted th'at it will act to close the valve with about one-half of the pull caused by centrifugal force, so that the valve K will, under centrifugal action, quickly open the vent V, sliding in the lateral bore XV toward the outer part, Where it will remain during the flight of the shell, the rotary motion of the shell period of travel at even the greatest ranges.

will lire the cap 1I, and flame from-the same, passing through will in turn ignite the charge of the shell o'r the intermediate magazine charge.

\Vithout limiting myself to the construction shown, I claim- 1. In a percussion-fuse, a seat for a primer, a channel leading from said seat to the shellcharge, a valve closing said channel, Aand means whereby the said valve is shifted by the revolution of the projectile after it leaves the gun, substantially as set forth.

2. In a percussion-f use, a seat for a primer, a ehamberfoil an igniting charge, a channel valve closing said channel,- and means Whereby the said valve is shifted by the revolution of the jyirojectile aftenit leaves the gun, substantially as set forth. I'

3. In a percussion-fuse, a seat fora primercap, means for exploding the cap'when the proj ectile strikes an object, a channel lea-din g is practically constant during the entirev the now-unobstructed vent,.

leading from saidseat to the said chamber, a

shell is accelerated the valve K will press Upon impact with the target the hammer,-

W 'J am valve issnlfted by the revolution of the projectile after it leaves the gun, substantiallTY as set forth.

4. The combination in a pereussion-fnse,

y and with the primer-cap seat and the exploding means, of a channel extending forward from said seat to the exploding means, and a Valve closing said channel andai-ranged to be shifted by cent1-if n gal action, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in a percussion-fuse, and with the primer-cap seat and the explod ing means, of a channel extending forward from said seat to the exploding means, a valve closing said channel and arranged to be shifted by centrifugal action, and a spring normally holding the valve to its seat, substantially as set forth. y

6. The combination in a percussion-fuse, and with the primer-cap seat and the exploding means, of a channel extending forward from said seat to the exploding means, and a Valve closing said channel and arranged to i normally out of action,

Valve arranged to slide radially and from said channel under centrifugal action, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof ,I have signed my naine to this specieation in the presence o1 two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL GATIIMANN. Witnesses:

EDWIN A. MILLER, EARL G. RUSH. 

